In Leyla and Mejnun, the path to individuality and autonomy can only be achieved through love: Mejnun stands up for his love and isolates himself, becoming an individual. Such that he no longer needs Leyla. In Yurdakul's adaptation, the roles are reversed, allowing Leyla finally to tell her story after 600 years. 

Following a small staging, Dr Kristine Johanson will reflect on the relationship between Romeo and Juliet and Leyla and Mejnun, and lead a Q&A with the audience. This will be followed by drinks and the opportunity to socialise with members of the ACSEM community.

Registration is free through the sign-up form below. 

Layla and Majnun is a tragic love story following Qays, a young poet who falls deeply in love with Layla. When her parents forbid their union, Qays becomes "Majnun" (meaning "madman") and wanders the desert, consumed by his longing. Their love, thwarted by societal and familial constraints, ultimately ends in spiritual union through death. It's a timeless tale of passionate, unfulfilled love and mystical devotion. The tale explores themes of longing, spiritual transcendence, and the limits of societal norms—its influence echoes through centuries of literature, including the European tradition.